Fort Niagara State Park

Fort Niagara State Park is a nature reserve with a historic military fort at the mouth of the Niagara River overlooking Lake Ontario. The grounds spread across 504 acres with green spaces, trails, shoreline access, and the old fortification at its center.

The French built the fort in 1726 to secure control over the Great Lakes and key water routes. The location changed hands between French and British forces several times before the Americans took it over and used it for more than a century.

The regular military reenactments show how soldiers and families lived and worked here during colonial times. You see demonstrations of daily routines and procedures that were important for defending the fort.

The area offers swimming areas, hiking trails, boat ramps, and fishing spots that vary by season. A large parking area with more than 1,000 spaces makes a visit convenient at any time of day.

The grounds contain the French Castle, a three-story limestone structure from 1726 that stands as one of the oldest surviving buildings in the entire Great Lakes region. This structure was built before the continent had been widely settled westward.